Fixture hanger



Dec. 27, 1960 APPLE-[ON 2,966,327

FIXTURE HANGER Filed March 10, 1958 INVENTOR. Non-row AAPPLEToN BY CM, 7

FIXTURE HANGER Norton A. Appleton, Northfield, IlL, assignor to Appleton Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 720,455 4 Claims. (Cl. 248--343) The present invention relates to a support for electrical lighting fixtures and more particularly to a hanger whereby a fixture can be supported directly from a conventional outlet box by fastening screws threaded into mounting lugs extending inwardly from the walls of the box. It frequently happens that outlet boxes are so positioned when they are installed that upon suspending lighting fixtures therefrom it is practically impossible to position the fixture so as to conform to a predetermined lighting plan. Such conformation is important not only from the standpoint of appearance but also from the standpoint of lighting efficiency. This is especially important in store, ofiice and industrial installations employing tubular fluorescent lighting where it is desired to have a series of fixtures disposed in alined relation and in installations where it is desired to obtain particular fixture orientation with respect to machines, work tables, or the like, which are to be illuminated. Further, with prior hangers for lighting fixtures some difficulty has been experienced in maintaining a particular fixture orientation especially in locations where the fixtures are likely to be moved. Such installations include factories and warehouses, for example, where the fixtures are likely to be swung by strong drafts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fixture hanger which is mountable dirertly upon a conventional outlet box utilizing the lugs commonly provided thereon with the improved hanger serving as a cover for the outlet box and being adapted for cooperation with a fixture to support the same in a manner permitting full rotation in a horizontal plane, so as to permit accurate position adjustment upon installation, the hanger being efiective to positively maintain a particular fixture position once it has been adjusted thereto.

It is a further object to provide a fixture hanger of simple yet rugged construction having few parts which permits of economical manufacture, and which parts upon initial assembly are relatively movable for posftion adjustment, yet which are prevented from disassociation so as to preclude accidental loss of parts before and during installation, and which upon installation cooperate to maintain a position of relative adjustment so as to insure fixture orientation once attained.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth together with other objects and ancillary advantages are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixture hanger embodying the features of the present invention and illustrating the same in installed condition.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially in the plane of line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as Fig. 2, but showing a hanger lug element in condition for movement with respect to the plate element.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the hanger lug in a permanently installed condition.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top view of a hanger lug element.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 66 in Fig. 5.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed. 0n the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

By way of illustration, an improved fixture hanger, generally designated 10, embodying the features of instant invention is shown in Figure 1 applied to a conventional outlet box 12. The latter is shown in phantom outline. As is customary, the outlet box has a pair of mounting lugs 14- extending inwardly from the outer edges of opposite walls thereof. Each lug is apertured and screw-threaded to receive a fixture mounting screw 16.

The improved fixture hanger comprises in general a fixture supporting member 20 herein shown as a substantially circular plate, together with suspension means coacting with the plate 20 in a manner facilitating orientation of a fixture supported by the hanger and effective to retain any desired orientation upon completion of the installation.

So that the hanger can be secured to, the outlet box 12 by means of conventional mounting screws there is provided outwardly from the center of the plate 20 and in position to register with the threaded apertures in the lugs 14 a pair of diametrically disposed openings 22. While not particularly shown, these openings are desirably of keyhole form having enlarged portions of a size to allow unobstructed passage of the heads of the screws 16 therethrough upon installation of the hanger, the screws previously having been threaded into the mounting lugs 14 of the outlet box. The narrow portions of the keyhole openings 22 are of such size that their edges overlie the heads of the screws when the hanger is finally installed. As shown, the illustrative hanger is equipped with safety brackets 23 which are fixed to the plate 20 and have transverse portions which are adapted to overlie the inner ends of the box lugs 14 so as to support the hanger, and a fixture suspended therefrom, during installation and to protect against falling should the mounting screws 16 work loose subsequent to installation.

To provide for the accommodation of an electrical plug receptacle the plate 20 has a central opening 24- formed therein, and a pair of diametrically positioned openings 25 are provided for receiving fastening means for the plug receptacle such as screws 27 to secure a mounting strap 26 to the plate 20. Provision is also made at 28 to receive a switch for the receptacle, if desired.

The suspension means as herein shown includes a pair of movable supporting lugs 30 for the accommodation of'chains 32 or the like as are conventionally utilized for hanging lighting fixtures. Additionally, the suspension means includes a downwardly disposed channel 34 formed about the periphery of the plate 20 and defining an upwardly-opening annular trough, having its outer wall converging slightly toward the central portion of the plate 20, with its free edge 36 terminating in downwardly spaced relation to the flat central portion of the plate. Each of the lugs 30 includes a hook portion 30a to which one of the chains 32 is attached, and each has its upper end turned back upon itself so as to form an arcuate downwardly-opening channel 3012. It will be apparent that the lugs 30 are thus adapted to have their channelled upper ends hooked over the free edge 36 of 3 the channel 34. Along the shank of each lug 30,'between the hook portion 30a and channel portion 30b, a strengthening rib 300 is provided.

Intermediate its ends each of the lugs 30 is provided with a stop finger 40. The stop finger 40 canconveniently be formed as a tang struck from the parent material of the lug 30. The stop finger projects substantially at right angles to the plane of the lug 30 and is adapted to extend partially beneath the channel 34 for engagement with the outer surface of the channel .at the lower outer edge thereof.

In carrying out one aspect of the present invention the inner edge of the finger 40 is located and fashioned to wedge against the outer channel surface when the weight of a fixture is applied thereto. As shown, the inner edge of the finger 40 is formed of two portions 40a and 40b with the portion 40a being normally disposed substantially tangent to the rounded outer surface of the channel 34. The portion 40b is disposed at an acute angle with respect thereto. It will be seen that when the weight of a fixture is applied to the lug 36 by the chain 32 the lug i pulled downwardly, its hooked inner end portions 39b pivoting on the free edge 36 of the channel 34. Thus the finger is urged into firm wedging engagement with the channel thereby assuring maintenance of its position thereon. It has been observed that with the finger edge 40a, 40b made sharp that it can actually bite into the outer surface of the channel 34. As a result the orientation of a fixture suspended by the chains 32 from the lugs 3i) is maintained even though the fixture might be accidentally svwing.

A locking finger 42 is provided at the inner end of the lug 30. Like the stop finger 40, the locking finger 42 can be formed as a tang struck from the parent material of the lug, and preferably it is disposed centrally of the channel portion 30b thereof. The locking finger 42 is adapted for engagement with the inner wall of the mounting plate channel 34 generally opposite the free edge 36 to limit upward movement of the lug with respect to the plate 20. The locking finger is thus a length just slightly greater than the width of the channel 34 between its free edge 36 and its inner wall.

Upon assembly of the lugs 30 with the mounting plate 20, the channel portions 30b of the lugs are hooked over the free edge 36 of the channel 34 and the locking finger 42 is bent just slightly out of the plane of the lug 30 toward the inner wall of the channel 34. This initial bending locates the free end of the locking finger 42 in spaced relation to the inner wall of the channel 34, as shown in Fig. 2, when the lug is in its normal position. Thus the lugs 30 can be pivoted through a small angle upon the free edge 36 of the channel 34 into a position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the free end of the locking finger 42 is spaced from the inner wall of the channel 34, and the inner edge of the stop finger 40 is spaced from the lower outer surface of the channel 34. As a result the lugs 36 are free to be moved along the channel edge 36 until the desired positions of the lugs 30 with respect to the plate 20 are attained for proper orientation of a fixture to be supported therefrom.

It will be observed, however, that further upward movement of the outer end of the lug 30 from the position shown in Fig. 3 causes the free end of the locking finger 42 to engage the inner wall of the channel 34 and further upward movement is prevented. In such position, with the free end of the locking finger in engagement with the inner channel wall, the terminal edge of the channel portion 36b of the lug 30 firmly engages the inner side of the outer channel wall preventing lateral movement of the lug. In this position it will be observed that the stop finger 40 still projects partially beneath the channel. Thus the lug is prevented from being detached. This feature of the instant device prevents accidental dislocation and loss of the lug 30 from the plate 20 before and during installation.

After the desired lug position with respect to the mounting plate 20 is attained, the weight of a fixture suspended from the chains 32, which are attached to the hook portions 30a of the lugs 30, pulls downwardly on the lugs. This urges the stop fingers 40 into wedging engagement with the lower outer surface of the channel 34. At this point in the installation of a fixture the elements of the lugs and the mounting plate occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 2.

Thereafter and to insure permanent maintenance of position of the lugs and a fixture suspended therefrom with respect to the plate 20, the locking fingers 42 can be bent further from the planes of the lugs 30 and into engagement with the inner wall of the mounting plate channel 34. This further bending can be readily accomplished as by a light hammer blow. Since, as hereinbefore noted, the locking finger on each lug is made slightly longer than the width of the channel 34 between its free edge 36 and the oppositely deposed portion of its inner wall. This further bending of the locking finger wedges its outer end against the inner wall of the channel. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Thus there is applied a spreading or outward force on the outer wall of the channel and firm engagement of the channel 34 between the stop finger 40 and the channel portion 30b to the end that the lugs 30 firmly grip the plate 20. Thus each lug is positively and permanently held against movement with respect to the mounting plate 20.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be readily appreciated that a fixture hanger constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is efiective to support a lighting fixture directly from an outlet box and initially permits the fixture to be readily adjusted into any position desired, through a full 360 rotation if need be. Nevertheless, it is of exceedingly simple construction permitting of economical manufacture from readily available material. Not only does the hanger serve to support a fixture, but at the same time it serves as a cover for the outlet box and if desired as a mounting for a plug receptacle and switch. Additionally, the construction and arrangement prevents accidental disassembly of the parts so that they will not become separated before or during installation. Upon installation, the device effectively prevents movement of a fixture thereby from its installed position, and further it can be operative to permanently maintain a particular installed position.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hanger for suspending a fixture from an outlet box comprising, in combination, a plate adapted to be fixed to the box and having an upwardly opening channel disposed about its periphery, and a pair of lugs for cooperation with the fixture and having channel-shaped upper end portions hooked over the free edge of said plate channel, each of said lugs having a rigid stop finger engageable with the lower outer edge of said channel and having a locking finger projecting toward the inner wall of said channel, said locking finger normally terminating in spaced relation to the inner channel wall for permithing pivoting of the lug with respect of the channel to disengage said stop finger and enable movement of the lug along the channel, yet engageable with the inner wall to limit such pivoting so as to prevent disassembly of the lug from the plate channel.

2. A hanger for suspending a fixture from an outlet box comprising, in combination, a plate adapted to be fixed to the box and having an upwardly opening channel disposed about its periphery, and a pair of lugs for cooperation with the fixture and having channel-shaped upper end portions hooked over the free edge of said plate channel, each of said lugs having a rigid stop finger engageable with the lower outer edge of said channel and having a bendable locking finger projecting toward the inner wall-of said channel and of a length greater than the width of the channel between its free edge and its inner wall, said locking finger initially terminating in spaced relation to the inner channel wall for permitting pivoting of the lug with respect of the channel to disengage said stop finger and enable movement of the lug along the channel yet to limit such pivoting so as to prevent disassembly of the lug from the plate channel, said locking finger having an installed position in wedging engagement with the inner channel wall forcing said upper end portion and said stop finger into gripping engagement with the outer channel wall whereby to lock said lug in installed position with respect to said pate.

3. A hanger for suspending a fixture from an outlet box comprising, in combination, a plate adapted to be fixed to the box and having an upwardly opening channel disposed about its periphery, and a plurality of lugs for cooperation with the fixture and having upper end portions extending over and engageable with the free edge of said plate channel, each of said lugs having a rigid stop finger projecting therefrom beneath said channel and engageable with the lower outer edge of said channel, and having a locking finger projecting toward the inner wall of said channel and of a length greater than the width of the channel between its free edge and its inner wall and disposed for engagement with the inner wall, said locking finger normally terminating in spaced relation to the inner channel wall for permitting limited pivoting movement of the lug upon the outer wall of the channel for disengaging said stop finger yet upon engagement of the locking finger with the inner wall to limit such pivoting movement so that said stop finger is not fully withdrawn from beneath said channel whereby to enable lug movement along said channel but to prevent disassembly of the lug from the plate channel.

4. A hanger for suspending a fixture from an outlet box comprising, in combination, a plate adapted to be fixed to the box and having an upwardly opening channel about its periphery, a lug for cooperation with the fixture, said lug being of fiat material and having its upper end portion turned back upon itself and hooked over the edge of the channel, and said lug further having a finger projecting angularly therefrom with one edge disposed in spaced opposed relation to said upper end portion for edge-on wedging engagement with the channel when the fixture is suspended from the lug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,781 Beardslee Mar. 18, 1919 1,399,232 Wiedenhoeft Dec. 6, 1921 1,419,307 Richardson June 13, 1922 2,286,118 Sleeth June 9, 1942 2,545,564 Appleton Mar. 20, 1951 

